English Short Vowels and Long Vowels
English Short Vowels and Long Vowels
English Short Vowels and Long Vowels
Vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips. We need to know in what ways vowels differ from each other. The first matter to consider is the shape and position of the tongue: the vertical distance between the upper surface of the tongue and the palate, and the part of the tongue, between front and back, which is raised highest
Lip-rounding
English has 12 vowels (7 short vowels and 5 long vowels) English short vowels //, /e/, //, //, //, //, // English long /i:/, /3:/, /a:/, /:/, /u:/
ACCORDING TO THE SHAPE and POSITION of the TONGUE 1. Close vowels: the tongue is quite high in the mouth.
Unrounded front vowel
The front of the tongue is slightly behind and below the close front position. The close position is where the tongue is closest to the roof of the mouth. Lips are spread. The tongue is tense, and the sides of the tongue touch the upper molars.
The part of the tongue slightly nearer the centre is raised to a point between the close and mid-close position . The tongue is more relaxed and the sides of the tongue may just touch the upper molars. The lips are slightly spread.
The back of the tongue is raised just below the close position. Lips are rounded. The tongue is tense.
The part of the tongue just behind the centre is raised, just above the half-closed position. The lips are rounded, but loosely. The tongue is relatively relaxed
2. Mid vowels: For mid vowels the tongue is neither high nor low in the mouth.
The front of the tongue is between the mid-open and midclose positions. The tongue is tenser than for / /, and the sides of the tongue may touch the upper molars. Lips are loosely spread.
The centre of the tongue is between the mid-close and midopen positions. Lips are relaxed, and neutrally spread.
The back of the tongue is raised between the mid-open and mid-close positions. This vowel is almost fully back and has quite loosely liprounding.
The centre of the tongue is between the mid-close and midopen positions. Lips are relaxed, and neutrally spread. It is commonly used by English speakers as a hesitation sound.
3. Open vowels: For open vowels, the tongue is low in the mouth.
The front of the tongue is raised just above the open position. The lips are slightly spread.
The centre of the tongue is raised just above the open position. The lip position is neutral.
This is an open vowel. The tongue, between the centre and the back is in the fully open position. The lip position is neutral.
This vowel is not quite fully back, and between open-mid and open in tongue height.
The lips are slightly rounded.